The Happy Booker-Alternative Book Award

My friend and blogging buddy, author Catherine McNamara (if you haven’t seen my author interview with Catherine, take a look here), has nominated me to create a list for the Happy Booker-Alternative Book Award. I follow the Booker prize each year – here are the nominations for 2013, but I like the idea of a…

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Mountains, swans and fondue in Geneva

I’ve traveled a fair amount in Switzerland, but in the German and Italian sections, so when I went to Geneva recently for work, I looked forward to spending time in the international city of French Switzerland. The city is small enough to explore easily – even with limited time after long work days. It’s a pleasant, quiet city on…

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Reason #5364 to love Rome: Centrale Montemartini Museum

Most tourists never make it to this unusual museum. It’s a little off the well-worn tourist track, in the Ostiense neighborhood , a former industrial zone of Rome. Nevertheless, Centrale Montemartini  is easily reached by public transport and definitely worth a visit. This unlikely satellite of Rome’s Capitoline Museum began its life in June 1912…

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Authors on Italy

Any of you who are familiar with my site know what an Italophile I am. That hardly makes me original. I’m simply following the lead of a long line of authors, poets, painters and composers singing Italy’s praises. If you find yourself in Rome, be sure to take a look at my earlier post on…

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From the ramparts of Les Baux de Provence, France

Provence is most certainly one of my (many) favorite corners of Europe. If you are visiting the region, you should try to set aside some time to visit the suggestive ruins of Les Baux de Provence. A visit to this site makes it clear why this was selected as a defensive position – visitors have…

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New York covered in snow

When my family and I go back to New York, it’s generally in the summertime when we all can manage longer holidays. But two years ago, we did go back during the winter and enjoyed a big blizzard that stopped the subways from running and had one of the most beautiful cities in the world covered in piles of…

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Brainstorming at the spa 2013

I’m typing this with my tears in my eyes because I’d been hoping to go myself, but March is shaping up to be more hectic than I thought and I won’t be able to get away this year. But for you lucky writers in Europe – or those of you who just need a thinly…

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